Sales Operations & Logistics Manager

Role Description:

Mercantile Pacific Group operates an authorised new-device distribution business receiving Apple product inbound at its Singapore hub and re-distributing to a portfolio of onward markets — currently including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Laos, and expected to expand across South Asia, Central Asia and Indochina. The Manager, Sales Operations & Logistics will own the operational backbone of this business — freight, warehouse and sales operations — end-to-end from vendor pick-up through to in-market handover.

Based in Singapore and reporting to the Head of Logistics and Operations, the role holder is accountable for on-time, in-full, in-cost delivery of every consignment; for the integrity and traceability of Apple inventory at the Singapore hub; and for the tight coordination between freight forwarders, the warehouse team, in-market distributors and internal sales, finance and compliance functions. This is a hands-on operational leadership role with a strong bias for execution, controls and vendor discipline.

Key Responsibilities:

Freight & Logistics Operations

• Own inbound freight from Apple's designated origins into the Singapore hub, and outbound freight from Singapore to distributor markets (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Laos and future geographies).
• Select, contract and manage freight forwarders and 3PLs across air, sea and road modes; negotiate rate cards, transit times and service levels; track carrier performance against SLAs.
• Own the shipping calendar and lane plan; balance cost, transit time and risk across modes; consolidate shipments where possible to optimize landed cost.
• Manage export documentation from Singapore — commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, airway bills, bills of lading — ensuring alignment with Apple's brand and documentation standards.
• Coordinate customs clearance at destination in partnership with in-market brokers and distributors; troubleshoot detentions, demurrage, HS-code disputes and duty issues.
• Track shipments end-to-end; produce OTIF, transit-time and freight-cost dash boards for leadership.

Warehouse Operations (Singapore Hub)

• Workday-to-day with the Singapore warehouse team (in-house and/or 3PL) to run inbound receiving, put-away, cycle counts, pick, pack and outbound dispatch for Apple product.
• Own inventory accuracy at the Singapore hub — SKU, serial / IMEI-level traceability, aging, condition and location integrity; drive perpetual cycle counting and monthly reconciliation to system-of-record.
• Enforce Apple-specific handling, storage, security and brand-protection requirements; ensure warehouse layout, access control, CCTV coverage and chain-of-custody standards are met at all times.
• Manage warehouse capacity planning against inbound flow and outbound release schedules; flag constraints early.
• Coordinate with the facilities and security function on physical security of the hub —access controls, CCTV, VMS, alarm systems and incident response for ahigh-value goods environment.

Sales Operations & Order Management

• Own the order-to-dispatch cycle for distributor markets — receive and validate purchase orders, confirm allocations, sequence releases, coordinate invoicing with Finance and trigger shipment.
• Maintain the SKU master, price lists and market allocation matrix; ensure alignment between commercial commitments made to distributors and physical inventory available at the Singapore hub.
• Run the weekly S&OP / allocation call with commercial leads and distributor account managers; balance demand against constrained Apple supply and manage shortfalls transparently.
• Track forecast accuracy, sell-in, sell-through (where available), aging inventory and channel health by market; escalate risks around excess, shortage or slow-movers.
• Own the operational interface with distributors in each market — order confirmations, ETAs, dispatch notifications, documentation and post-shipment queries.

Vendor & Apple Relationship Management

• Manage the operational relationship with Apple's supply chain and logistics counterparts —confirmations, forecasts, releases, ASN handling and issue resolution.
• Ensure Mercantile's operations remain compliant with Apple's authorised-distributor operating requirements — packaging integrity, brand protection, serial tracking, prohibited-market controls and audit-readiness.
• Manage a panel of freight forwarders, customs brokers, insurance providers and 3PLvendors — annual re-tendering, rate reviews, SLA tracking and incident management.

Compliance, Trade & Risk Controls

• Ensure every outbound shipment complies with Singapore export controls, incoterms discipline, sanctions screening and destination-country import regulations.
• Maintain documented SOPs and controls for freight, warehouse and order management; support internal and external audits with clean, complete evidence.
• Own cargo insurance coverage and claims management for lost, damaged or delayed consignments.

Reporting, Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• Build and maintain operational dashboards — OTIF, freight cost per unit, inventory accuracy, order cycle time, dwell time at hub, claims and vendor performance.
• Produce monthly and quarterly operations reporting packs for the Head of Logistics and Operations and group leadership; support board-level updates as required.
• Identify and drive continuous-improvement initiatives — process automation, WMS optimisation, freight lane re-design, packaging efficiency, cost reduction.
• Support ad-hoc analytical requests from Finance, Commercial and Country leadership; ensure consistent definitions and data lineage across reports.

Essential

• 6–8 years of progressive experience in distribution, supply chain or logistics operations, with meaningful exposure to freight, warehousing and sales / order operations across all three areas.
• Demonstrated ownership of multi-country outbound distribution, ideally including experience with emerging or frontier markets in South Asia, Central Asia or Indochina.
• Strong working knowledge of Incoterms, air and sea freight, customs documentation, HS classification and destination clearance processes.
• Hands-on experience running or overseeing warehouse operations — WMS use, cycle counting, serial / IMEI tracking, put-away, pick-pack and dispatch discipline in a secure environment.
• Solid understanding of order management, allocation logic and S&OP disciplines in a constrained-supply environment.
• Strong vendor management track record with freight forwarders, 3PLs and customs brokers.
• Excellent Excel and analytical skills; comfortable producing executive-grade dashboards from operational and financial data.
• Excellent written and spoken English; clear, structured and confident communication style for engagement with Apple counterparts, distributors and internal senior stakeholders.
• High process discipline, attention to detail and a strong bias for documentation, controls and audit-readiness.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business or a related discipline.
• Must be Singapore-based, with willingness and ability to travel occasionally to onward markets and to Apple counterpart locations as required.

Preferred

• Prior experience in consumer electronics, mobile devices or high-value FMCG distribution; direct experience working with Apple or an equivalent OEM as an authorised distributor is a significant advantage.
• Familiarity with WMS / ERP (SAP, NetSuite, Oracle or similar).
• Background Managing Freight Forwarders / Airlines